Sometimes, all you need is a break. Whether it’s from working away at a task or taking a quick pause to appreciate what’s going on in the moment, a break can really make the difference for many and provide a new opportunity along with different expectations for others. Every so often in the vast realm of metal, we see acts come around that become proficient at one sound only to pivot into a new style somewhere along the line with not many pivoting back to that original path. An interlude can offer a breath of fresh air, however, for those that do seek one before continuing on their usual plan. At the Altar of the Horned God is perhaps one of the last acts I would’ve expected to make such a brief deviation, but it’s through this side-bar that we see a new side to the act that still has more than a few threads continuing from the act’s previous efforts.

We’ve seen plenty of bands in the realms of extreme metal make transitions into more rock-oriented sounds with varying degrees of success, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a scenario like what we have here. At the Altar of the Horned God has made its dominance known with an atmospheric breed of black metal that is entwined with ritualistic ambiances to really set it apart from many contemporaries which makes this punk rock mixed with darkwave EP a real whiplash-inducing shift, but I simply cannot deny the charm and intrigue that “Elements” has despite its relatively simplistic premise that has been done many other times. Armed with just four tracks, At the Altar of the Horned God manages to make for a surprisingly engaging, gothic creation that is filled with more than a few riffs and a ton of synthesizers to really propel you into a realm of rock-solid darkwave that leaves nothing on the table in ways of making the listener want more from this particular vein in an outing such as this. And when armed with the exceedingly diverse set of vocals and the ritualistic tendencies that At the Altar of the Horned God has boasted for some time now, the threads of the act’s more offbeat tendencies shine through to make this far more than what could’ve been a lazy pivot that feels half-assed in nature. On the contrary, “Elements” serves as a stylistic interlude for an intense act that manages to impress and expand upon an already impressive repertoire that this act has boasted since day one.

While we’ve already been promised to a return to form on the next full-length from At the Altar of the Horned God, I simply cannot deny that I enjoyed this brief step to the wayside to explore a new side to this act that I don’t think many of us would have known was there were it not for this EP. It’s a wild pivot, for sure, but it’s through clear talent and a passion for the sounds involved that “Elements” avoids a terrible fate and becomes a morsel of flavor that is more than fitting to stand alongside the immense darkness that At the Altar of the Horned God has become known for.

“Elements” releases on December 13th via I, Voidhanger Records!

LISTEN to an advanced track from “Elements” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE At the Altar of the Horned God on Facebook here.